Scanning camera



Aug. 31, 1948. v. v. DAVIS 2,448,084

SCANNING CAMERA FiledApri]; 2, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 Inventor Va/fer V. 001 115.

By My 3 V. V. DAVIS SCANNING CAMERA Aug. 31, 1948.

v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1945 WW E M5108 All. 31, V. V. DAVIS SCANNING CAMERA Filed April 2. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill K V a 4 N I Inventor MW m Aug. 31, 1948. v, DAVls 2,448,084

S CANN IN G CAMERA Filed April 2, l945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED *smAz rEs PATENT .2.0 F'FIGE SCANNING CAMERA "'Valter V. Davis, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

I Application April 2, 1945, SerialNo; 586,137 ""3'Claims. (CI; 9515) .This inventionrelatesto an improved photographing apparatus, and an object of.the inven- .tion is to provide ade'vice whereby an ordinary single-lens camera may. befocused from any point along..the arc of a circle-with the-subject ap proximately at .itsrcenter, -.so. that the camera need only be. focused. once-for taking views of the subjectat difierentangles, or'whe'reby the camera may be used-for photographing successive portions of thesubject on successive portions of the sensitized element of theramerafrom successive points alongnthe are to. obtain acomposite photograph having. the y appearance of depth.

A .more specificnobject. f=theinvention is to provide adevice. oflthe aboveikind including a horizontal beam mounted. to..swing in an..arc about a vertical axis, acamera.support...carried byand movable with-the beam and. located. at a pointremovedrf rom the .piizotalaxisiof the latter; 1 and a camera-carriedbysaidcamera support and arranged so that its focal axis isintlinewith the pivotal axis of .the beam, whereby =views may be taken at. difierent anglesvbythecamera of a subject located approximately at-the pivotal axis of the beam.

A further. objectzofithe invention is to provide a device of. the above-kind in:which.the beam is pivotally mounted. at a. pointtintermediate .its

ends, wherein the camera is .mountedonone end portion. of, the beam, wherein. avertical-background wall onscreen is mounted-upon the-other end .portion of thetbeamnfor. turning relative to the. latter about. a. .vertical .axis; and. wherein .means is provided. to automatically turn :the background r wallrelative to, the-beam-so as to .constantlyumairitaim-said-=iwall parallelrwith. a given vertical plane -\ivhcmtl ie. beam is swung-hori- ..-zontally. for adjustment to differentrangulanpo- .sitions relative'to thesubject. I

Still. another. object -of.-the invention is-to provide means'foreconveniently.adjusting-the camera support. longitudinally. of. the beam -.for taking pictures at differentiocaLdistances.

. A stillfurthemandimportant object cfethe invention is. to. providea devicehwhereby -an' ordinary single .lens ecamera may. bemoyed inan are i of a circle with the subject aDDroximately-atthe center of the .arc and during exposure .of.the sensitized element in the. camera, so thatrhhe.

composite view taken .from all-pointsof the arc will present a picture having theappearance" of depth somewhat similar to that providediqby stereoscopic pictures.

The invention comprehends a device ofithe kind specified in thepreceding object, wherein the camera is equipped.with a'swinging.image distributor of aform to restrict passage'of the images to definite different portions of the sensiadjustably limiting the degree'of swinging movement of the beam.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means .for varying the degree and speed. of movement of. the image distributor relative/to the degree and speed of movement of. the. beam,

whereby the device may be used for taking pictures with different degrees otdepth. appearance and so that the time of exposure may. bechanged to suit conditions and requirements.

Other objects and features of..the invention will become .apparent from the'. following description when ccn'sidered in connection with the accompanying drawingaand theinvention consists inthe novel form, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter. more.fu1ly.-.described,

shown in the acccmpanyingqdrawings..and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein. likerreferenceichab acters indicate. corresponding parts "throughout the several views:

Figural is a sideelevational view, partly broken away, of one form of apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vtop plan. view thereof. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken .-on.line- 3-.3 of Figure 1.

.. :Figure 4 is a. vertical transversesection-taken -on line 4-4 oirEigur-e 1.

'movement of the latter.

Figure is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-45 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the image distributor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a floor or platform 5 on which the subject is to be located while being photographed. Pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and beneath the fioor or platform 5 is a horizontal beam ii adapted to be swung horizontally in the arc of a circle, as indicated in Figure 2. The pivot for the beam 6 may vary in construction, but is shown as including a vertical pivot pin I passing through the beam 6 and having bearing members 8 on the ends thereof which are respectively secured to the under side of the floor or platform 5 and to the upper surface of a horizontal support 9 suitably rigidly mounted in spaced relation to and beneath the floor or platform 5. Th bearing members 8 coast with similar bearing members it secured upon the upper and lower faces of the beam 8, whereby free and noiseless movement of the beam is promoted.

Mounted upon one end portion of the beam 6 is a camera support which is shown as comprising a bifurcated upright I I whose lower end straddles the beam 6 and is secured to the latter by means of a bolt I2 passing through the legs of the upright and the beam. The beam 6 is provided with a I longitudinal series of uniformly spaced openings I3 for selective reception of the bolt I2 whereby the camera support may be adjusted relative to the beam at difierent distances from its pivotal axis. -A plate I4 is fixed on the upper end of the upright I I and has an ordinary single-lens camera I5 mounted thereon so that its focal axis is in line with th pivotal axis. of the beam 6. Stationary stop members I6 are mounted at opposite sides of the beam 6 for limiting the horizontal swinging A forwardly tapering horizontal plate I1 is mounted upon the beam 6 and is of a width to project beyond opposite sides of the latter as well as being located between the stop members I6 to coact with the latter in limiting th swinging movement of the beam. The plate I! is adjustable longitudinally of the beam 6 for adjustably limiting the degree of swinging movement permitted for the beam 6. Adjustment of plate I! may be effected by bolting it to the beam at I8, the bolts extending through a longitudinal elongated slot IQ of the plate. Obviously, when the plate I1 is adjusted forwardly, its wider portion is disposed to engage the stop members I6 and swinging movement of the beam 6 is limited to a lesser distance than when the plate I! is adjusted rearwardly so as to dispose its forward narrower portion between the stop members I6.

Mounted upon the other end of beam 6 is a vertical background wall or screen that acts to counterbalance the beam 6 by equalizing the weight at opposite sides of the pivot of said beam. The background wall orscreen 20 is pivotally mounted at 2| and 22 at a point midway between the sides thereof for turning about a vertical axis relative to the beam 6 so that it may be maintained at all times parallel with a given transverse vertical plane. In order to maintain the background wall or screen 20 parallel to such plane by turning it relative to the beam 6 as the latter 4 is swung horizontally, an arm 23 is rigid with and projects laterally from one side of the background wall or screen 20 and slidably extends through a stationary guide 24 suitably mounted in the required position. In this way, lateral movement of the wall or screen 20 is permitted and it is caused to change angular relation with respect to the beam 5 as the latter is swung horizontally, for maintaining said wall or screen parallel with the given plane as mentioned. Wall or screen 20 may be suitably braced in its vertical position, as at 25, and it will be seen that it may furnish a desired background for the subject when the latter is photographed while occupying a position on the fiooror platform 5 between thecamera and said wall or screen 20 and approximately at the pivotal axis of the beam 6 in line with said axis and the focal axis of the camera. As shown, the floor or platform 5. the support 9 and the stop members I6 may form part of a box-like structure having side walls 26 and a rear wall slotted, as indicated at 21 by dotted lines in Figure 2, so as to not interfere with the horizontal swinging movement of the beam 6.

Mounted within the casing of the camera between the lens holder 28 and the holder 29 for the sensitized plate or element is a laterally swinging image distributor or scanning element 3D consisting of a hollow member which is flat vertically, open at its forward pivoted end, and provided with a central vertically elongated narrow slot 3| in its rear end. This image distributor or scanning element is arranged centrally between the sides of the camera so that the images of successive portions of the subject may pass therethrough from the camera lenses to the sensitized element when the camera is swung laterally. The slot 3I is of a selected size to properly restrict the images to reception on predetermined portions of the sensitized element, for a purpose which will be presently described. As shown, the image distributor or scanning element preferably tapers narrower rearwardly from its pivoted end, and the rear end of the image distributor or scanning element is arranged 'in reasonably close proximity to the sensitized element or plate which is placed in the camera.

A vertical shaft 32 is journaled in the upper portion of the upright I I and projects into the camera, the image distributor being detachably secured upon the upper end of the shaft 32, as at 33. Shaft 32 is of telescopic construction so as to be adjustable in length, and its lower end terminates directly above the beam 6 and has a laterally projecting arm 34 fixed thereon.

Pivotally mounted beneath the floor or platform 5 intermediate its ends and as at 35 is a horizontall swinging hand lever 36. The forward end of lever 36 is connected by a rod or link 3! with the crank arm 34, and the lever 36. is located to one side of the beam 6 so that the pivotal connection of rod 31 with lever 36 is disposed to one side of the pivotal-axis of the beam 6, as shown in Figure 2. Any suitable means may be provided to retain the lever .31 in any position to which it may be swingingly adjusted about its pivot. The arrangement is such that when the beamS is swung horizontally, the image distributor or scanning element is simultaneously swung laterally in an opposite direction. Also, by adjusting'th'e lever 36, its point of pivotal connection with the rod 31 may be adjusted to different distances from the pivotal axis of the beam 6 so as tovary the degree and speed of movementof the image difitributor with respect to the degree and speed of movement of the beam 6. efiectedin, direct. relationship to the adjustment of; the plate ILwhichlimits the degree ofswingingmovement, of the, beam; 6 and the. time, of exposure. required of. the sensitized elementon whichthepioture is beingtaken. Of course, care willgbeexercisedsoas to swing the beam 6 laterally; at asteady or uniform and approximately predeterminedspeed. .In takingthecompositepictures, successive portions, of. the sensitized: element, in the, camera. are exposed during the swinging movement of the beam 6 from one limit of movement to the other. As the beam is swung horizontally, the images of successive portions of the subject pass through the image distributor and are successively received on successive portions of the sensitized element as the angle of exposure changes during movement of the camera with the beam. By the use of the image distributor or scanning element, it is thus possible to obtain a composite picture or view of the subject which is clear and unblurred. As the picture is composed of images of different portions of the subject taken from different points along an arc and therefore at different angles with respect to the subject, a single composite picture results having pronounced depth appearance.

For slight adjustments in the focal distance between the subject and the camera, the upright l I may be adjustably tilted forwardly or rearwardly about the bolt [2, and the rod 31 is of telescopic form so as to be adjustable in length to permit this to be done. The adjustable telescopic form of shaft 32 also takes care of changes in relation of parts at this time. The action of the operating means for the image distributor will be readi- 1y understood when it is considered that the point of connection of rod 31 with the lever 36 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the pivotal axis of the beam 6. Also, the handle end of lever 36 projects rearwardly beyond the rear portion of the platform or floor 5 where it is exposed to be grasped and adjusted.

The present device may be used to take a plurality of pictures of a subject, each at a different angle or from a different point upon the arc of a circle, with no depth effect. This may be accomplished by simpl removing the image distributor or scanning element from the shaft 32 and allowing the beam 6 to remain in a stationary position during exposure of each sensitized element within the camera, a new or different sensitized element being provided for each picture. Obviously, the invention may find embodiment in many different forms of construction, and various changes may be made in details of construction illustrated and described, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

The operation of the device having been explained during description of the construction, it is believed that the operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated b those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A photographing apparatus comprising a fixed support, a horizontal beam pivotally mounted upon said support for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, a camera support carried by and projecting upwardly from said beam and mounted on the latter at a point removed from said axis, a fixed support for the subject to be photographed located coincident with said axis, a single lens camera mounted on top of said camera support and arranged to focus This is.

upon: a subject located substantially at said ax'is, an image distributor mounted in the-camera for swinging movement about a vertical- 'axis and constructed to restrict passage of the image ofa' portion of the'subject onto a restricted portion of the surface of a sensitized element placed in the camera, and connecting means operatively connecting said fixed support to. the image distributor for automatically swinging the latter about its axis when the beam is swung horizontally, so that the images of' successive portions of the subject are received upon successive dif; ferent portions of the sensitized element as the angle of exposure changes; whereby to secure-a composite-having depth appearance upon continued exposure during swinging movement of the beam.

2. A photographing apparatus comprising a fixed support, a horizontal beam pivotally mounted upon said support for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, a camera support carried by and projecting upwardly from said beam and mounted on the latter at a point removed from said axis, a fixed support for the subject to be photographed located coincident with said axis, a single lens camera mounted on top of said camera support and arranged to focus upon a subject located substantially at said axis, an image distributor mounted in the camera for swinging movement about a vertical axis and constructed to restrict passage of the image of a portion of the subject onto a restricted portion of the surface of a sensitized element placed in the camera, and connecting means operatively connecting said fixed support to the image distributor for automatically swinging the latter about its axis when the beam is swung horizontally, so that the images of successive portions of the subject are received upon successive different portions of the sensitized element as the angle of exposure changes, whereby to secure a composite picture having depth appearance upon continued exposure during swinging movement of the beam, said connecting means being adjustadistributor relative to the speed of movement of the beam.

3. A photographing apparatus comprising a fixed support, a horizontal beam pivotally mounted upon said support for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, a camera support carried by and projecting upwardly from said beam and mounted on the latter at a point removed from said axis, a fixed support for the subject to be photographed located coincident with said axis, a single lens camera mounted on top of said camera support and arranged to focus upon a subject located substantially at said axis, an image distributor mounted in the camera for swinging movement about a vertical axis and constructed to restrict passage of the image of a portion of the subject onto a restricted portion of the surface of a sensitized element placed in the camera, and connecting means operatively connecting said fixed support to the image distributor for automatically swinging the same about its axis when the beam is swung horizontally, so that the images of successive portions of the subject are received upon successive diiferent portions of the sensitized element as the angle of exposure changes, whereby to secure a composite picture having depth appearance upon continued exposure during swinging movement of the beam, said connecting means being adjustable to vary the speed of movement of the image distributor relative to the speed of movement of the beam, and an adjustable stop carried by the beam and coactlng with the support to adjustably limit the degree of movement of the beam.

VAL'I'ER V. DAVIS. 5

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 10

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Beyer Aug. 12, 1919 Le Provost Mar. 9, 1926 15 Number 

